Warm Blockbuster Memories

The video rental store chain, Blockbuster, has been in trouble for a few years as Netflix has been taken over an increasing share of the market.� Today it was announced that Blockbuster is filing for bankruptcy protection.� Their stores will continue operating for now, but it’s not looking good for them.� In recognition of what is likely the end of Blockbuster, I think we should all share our memories of the videos that we always remember seeing in our local Blockbuster stores.� You know, those movies that just always stuck out to you.� You wouldn’t necessarily rent them, but they would catch your eye and you always knew where they were in the store.� For example: Warlock.� What the f*ck was Warlock?� I have no idea, but there is no video cover that is more clear in my mind. He came from the past to destroy the future?� What?� The future in the past is still just the future.� Why couldn’t he destroy it from then?� And if you can go into the future, why half ass it?� Why go to the future that’s still before the future that you want to destroy.� Just go to the future you want to destroy and destroy it in the present.� Right?� Anyway, I’ll always remember that video cover and never ever see the movie. Now this next movie, I actually saw.� I think a lot of us did.� But much more iconic than the movie was the video cover.� Remember the cover for The Wizard? I made my mom rent this for me when I was about six years old. � Then I was so mad when it ended, and at no point during the movie had Fred Savage and that girl held up that kid on their shoulders.� I remember thinking, “Why would they put that on the cover if it never happened?!”� That was my main criterion for judging movies at that point in my life.� I wanted the video covers to accurately represent the movie.� The Wizard failed miserably at this.� “Bull!” I would mutter to myself whenever I passed by it at the Blockbuster. This next one is from later in life.� I’ve actually heard good things about this movie, but never seen it.� All I know for sure was that it was in the new release section of my hometown Blockbuster store for the entire duration of my college years. You know how you know something isn’t a new release anymore?� If you’ve had enough time to complete an undergraduate degree and live in three different cities since it first appeared in the new release section.� And now, in a perfect synchronization with the changing world, Bubba Ho-Tep is available to watch instantly on Netflix and I see it every time I browse through their suggestions for me.� Bubba Ho-Tep has come from the past to destroy my future. Are these movie covers you guys remember?� Is this just a me thing?Kristi Gibson Angelina Jolie Kate Spade Jeremy Jackson